AsiaNews.it, Italy
March 15 2005

Rosary for peace, against wall, says a Bethlehem nun

Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – The Elizabethan Sisters working at Bethlehem’s
Baby Caritas Hospital and local Christians have been praying the
rosary in front of Israel’s wall every Thursday. By their example,
they hope to encourage peace between Israelis and Palestinians and at
the same time express their opposition to wall.

Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today unveiled the final
route of the `security barrier’ whose construction he ordered more
than a year ago to stop Palestinians from launching terrorist attacks
into Israel itself. Palestinians oppose this `barrier’ because it
annexes their land and makes their daily movement that more
difficult.

Around Bethlehem wall construction is near completion. It includes
the check-point between Bethlehem itself and Jerusalem, the Jewish
settlement of Ghilo, Rachel’s Tomb, and stands at only 200 metres
from the Baby Caritas Catholic hospital.

Further north, the wall extends eastward to encompass the West Bank
Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim.

`Since June of last year we meet every week at the wall to pray the
rosary that peace may come between the two peoples and to say no to
the wall,’ said Sister Ileana Benetello, who has been in the Holy
Land for 23 years.

`In the beginning the soldiers gave us a hard time. They would turn
the floodlights on us and keep us under their watchful eye. But now
they don’t bother us any more’.

Near Bethlehem, the wall has taken in several olive groves owned by
Christian Armenian families. It is unclear whether the Israelis have
simply confiscated the land or expropriated it with compensation for
the owners.

Sister Ileana explained that `the wall is almost completed with two
openings, one for people to cross, the other for cargo and customs.’

The Italian nun noted that the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy
Places has been rising recently. She has said that Israel has also
been issuing more work permits to Palestinians, `however, the
situation remains very difficult’.

For many Palestinians in Bethlehem, the wall has also created an
additional moral dilemma. `To make a living, many Palestinians accept
to work on the wall construction,’ Sister Ileana said.

`I am not sure they all realise in what contradiction they are
putting themselves. It is something abominable that cannot go on.
They are building their own prison,’ she added. (LF)